Chase d'Arnaud and his fellow starting position-player teammates took the short jog from the IronPigs dugout to an area on the outfield grass just beyond third base.

Prior to this late August game at Coca-Cola Park, d'Arnaud, like he and his teammates have done minutes before every contest they've started at every level of professional baseball, stretched a final time and ran a few short sprints.

Advertisement

However d'Arnaud changed things up when it came time for his warmup throws. Instead of playing catch with a fellow IronPig, the 28-year-old shortstop brought out a pre-teen from the stands.

The shortstop did this on a few occasions during what was a long season for Lehigh Valley — which finished 63-81, its worst record since 2010.

It was rough from the start when the IronPigs were 6-20 and eventually hit bottom at 22-42 before playing better-than-.500 ball in the second half.

Here is a six-pack of things to remember from 2015 and watch for in the months leading up to 2016 spring training in what surely will be a busy offseason for the Phillies organization:

A good clubhouse: Moments before one of the IronPigs' final games this season, d'Arnaud led a group of Little Leaguers from the left-field line to the wall in center field for a warmup jog, then some stretching and a jog back. He set a club record with 24 errors and had a late-season hitting slump, but d'Arnaud's demeanor never changed. Same could be said for other veterans, including Russ Canzler, Tyler Henson and Jordan Danks.

Season highlight: It didn't come in a game. It came in the clubhouse hours before the June 21 contest against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Pitcher Adam Morgan talked about getting his first major league start two days later — on Father's Day. Morgan teared up several times talking about his relationship with his dad, Wiley, and the path he'd taken to get to that point in his career. Shoulder surgery cost him the 2014 season and velocity on his pitches, but it didn't deter his work ethic and determination. Morgan never returned to the IronPigs this season and will get a shot to be on the Phillies' 2016 Opening Day roster.

Season lowlight: Injuries are part of every sport. Battling through the emotional roller-coaster of the recovery process after surgery is tough. So is the rehabilitation. Watching Chad Billingsley sweat through every one of his seven rehab starts with the IronPigs was grueling, knowing this is the same guy who was a 2009 National League All-Star and won at least 10 games in six consecutive years for the Dodgers. In trying to overcome two major right elbow surgeries, Billingsley suffered two setbacks in 2015 after making just seven starts this season for the Phillies.

"I'm tired of talking to you guys," Billingsley said with a smile after one his rehab starts.

As a writer, I was not offended knowing the Reading-area resident is a genuinely good guy. As a human being, it was hard to watch him trying to get back to where he was once was. He only wants to be a major league pitcher, throwing in stadiums with a third deck. He isn't expecting to be an All-Star again. It still remains to be seen if he'll get his wish. He finished 2015 where he started — on the disabled list.

Coaching staff: Brundage, hitting coach Sal Rende and pitching coach Ray Burris are under contract through 2016, but will they be brought back for Year 1 of president Andy MacPhail's regime with the Phillies? I think Rende has the best chance of being at Coca-Cola Park next season. The leaps made by Maikel Franco, the revamped approach of Henson and the progress of those including Aaron Altherr and Logan Moore bode well for Rende, who has a stellar track record.

Advertisement

Burris, who is 65, could decide to retire to his front porch in Clearwater, Fla., after 15 seasons as a major league pitcher and the next 23 as a coach/instructor. It was a tough year for Lehigh Valley pitchers. They led the International League in hits allowed, recorded the fewest strikeouts, allowed the second-most walks and posted the third-worst ERA.

The IronPigs' record got worse each of Brundage's three seasons, but it's not all about winning in the minors. Development is most important.

Sometimes in baseball, it's about relationships. How the Phillies minor league staff hierarchy stacks up may have something to do with who returns to run the IronPigs.

The offseason: D'Arnaud is headed to a Caribbean winter league. So is Brian Bogusevic, Chris Leroux and others. Tommy Joseph hopes to join them after spending time in the instructional league as he continues to transition from catcher to first base.

Jesse Biddle, the Phillies' 2010 first-round pick, will not be heading anywhere overseas to throw. The soon-to-be 24-year-old said he'll work to get his left shoulder healthy. He was put on the disabled list Aug. 29 with a shoulder strain after posting a 2-4 record with a 6.25 ERA in his nine-game stint in Triple-A.

"It's the wear and tear on a young man who has thrown a lot of innings with a lot of intangibles behind it," Brundage said.

Biddle's problems may be as much mental as physical after failing to finish a season for the second year in a row and struggling to find much success the last two years after showing promise (3.29 ERA, 429 strikeouts in 413 IP from 2011-13).

"Things are going to have to change," Brundage said. "I've seen a much better Jesse Biddle at times. [On July 17] in Rochester, he commanded all four of his pitches. You know it's in there.

"Other times, he looks like an ordinary left-handed pitcher throwing 87 to 90 mph. When you see what he's capable of, you see a major league pitcher. Other days, you're wondering whether he can cut it here in Triple-A."

Since making its debut in 2008, Coca-Cola Park has drawn more fans than anywhere in Minor League baseball with an average crowd of 9,009. This year marked the lowest average attendance at CCP since the first season and fewest sellouts ever. Here's a year-by-year look at Lehigh Valley's track record :